Monthly reports for election period missing from previous OIA
D Watson made this Official Information request to Electoral Commission
Response to this request is long overdue. By law Electoral Commission should have responded by now (details and exceptions). The requester can complain to the Ombudsman.
From: D Watson
Dear Electoral Commission,
I am trying to understand the errors encountered during the election as outlined in the recent Auditor General Review coupled with information I recieed from my own OIAs and general discussion I have had with other interested parties about the election.
I have been reviewing OIAs to the Electoral Commission. I note the following OIA
https://fyi.org.nz/request/23742/respons...
Reports for the months around the actual election were not provided.
It states..."10 sets of monthly reports for 2022/23 covering operational detail. The latter monthly reporting is for internal use and is considered by the Commission’s Executive Leadership Team".
What does that mean?
Can you please release these documents; July 2023, August 2023, September 2023, October 2023 and November 2023. These should be readily available.
Thank you
Yours faithfully,
David
From: Support
##- Please type your reply above this line -##
[1]Vote NZ logo [2]an official site of the New Zealand Electoral
Commission
Kia ora
Thank you for your enquiry. We’ll get back to you as soon as we can, we
aim to respond to enquiries within two working days.
Your request has been assigned a tracking number, 132224.
In the meantime, you may find the information you need on [3]our website.
If you have any more questions or comments, please reply to this email.
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From: OIA Enquiries
Kia ora D Watson
We are acknowledging your Official Information request, received Wednesday
29 May 2024, requesting:
I have been reviewing OIAs to the Electoral Commission. I note the
following OIA
[1]https://fyi.org.nz/request/23742/respons...
Reports for the months around the actual election were not provided.
It states..."10 sets of monthly reports for 2022/23 covering operational
detail. The latter monthly reporting is for internal use and is considered
by the Commission’s Executive Leadership Team".
What does that mean?
Can you please release these documents; July 2023, August 2023, September
2023, October 2023 and November 2023. These should be readily available.
We will respond to your request as soon as reasonably practicable within
the 20 working days.
Ngā mihi,
Electoral Commission | Te Kaitiaki Take Kōwhiri
PO Box 3220 | Level 10, 34-42 Manners Street | Wellington |
[2]vote.nz | [3]elections.nz
[4][IMG]
Here is a request from D Watson
([5][FOI #27043 email]).
From: D Watson
Date: Tue, May 28, 2024 at 7:24 pm
Dear Electoral Commission,
I am trying to understand the errors encountered during the election as
outlined in the recent Auditor General Review coupled with information I
recieed from my own OIAs and general discussion I have had with other
interested parties about the election.
I have been reviewing OIAs to the Electoral Commission. I note the
following OIA
[6]https://fyi.org.nz/request/23742/respons...
Reports for the months around the actual election were not provided.
It states..."10 sets of monthly reports for 2022/23 covering operational
detail. The latter monthly reporting is for internal use and is considered
by the Commission’s Executive Leadership Team".
What does that mean?
Can you please release these documents; July 2023, August 2023, September
2023, October 2023 and November 2023. These should be readily available.
Thank you
Yours faithfully,
David
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[7][FOI #27043 email]
Is [8][Electoral Commission request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to Electoral Commission? If so, please contact us using this
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Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
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References
Visible links
1. https://fyi.org.nz/request/23742/respons...
2. https://vote.nz/
3. https://elections.nz/
4. https://vote.nz/
5. mailto:[FOI #27043 email]
6. https://fyi.org.nz/request/23742/respons...
7. mailto:[FOI #27043 email]
8. mailto:[Electoral Commission request email]
9. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
10. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
From: OIA Enquiries
Kia ora D Watson
Please find attached the response and supporting document to your Official
Information Act request.
In the interests of transparency, we release responses to Official
Information Act requests every three months. We will publish this response
with your personal details redacted on elections.nz.
You have the right under section 28(3) of the Act to make a complaint to
the Ombudsman if you are not satisfied with the response to your request.
Information about how to do this is available at ombudsman.parliament.nz
or by phoning 0800 802 602.
Ngā mihi,
Electoral Commission | Te Kaitiaki Take Kōwhiri
PO Box 3220 | Level 10, 34 – 42 Manners Street | Wellington | 6140 | New
Zealand
Phone +64 4 495 0030 | [1]vote.nz | [2]elections.nz
From: OIA Enquiries <[email address]>
Sent: Thursday, May 30, 2024 3:10 PM
To: [FOI #27043 email]
Subject: OIA Acknowledgment
Kia ora D Watson
We are acknowledging your Official Information request, received Wednesday
29 May 2024, requesting:
I have been reviewing OIAs to the Electoral Commission. I note the
following OIA
[3]https://fyi.org.nz/request/23742/respons...
Reports for the months around the actual election were not provided.
It states..."10 sets of monthly reports for 2022/23 covering operational
detail. The latter monthly reporting is for internal use and is considered
by the Commission’s Executive Leadership Team".
What does that mean?
Can you please release these documents; July 2023, August 2023, September
2023, October 2023 and November 2023. These should be readily available.
We will respond to your request as soon as reasonably practicable within
the 20 working days.
Ngā mihi,
Electoral Commission | Te Kaitiaki Take Kōwhiri
PO Box 3220 | Level 10, 34-42 Manners Street | Wellington |
[4]vote.nz | [5]elections.nz
[6][IMG]
Here is a request from D Watson
([7][FOI #27043 email]).
From: D Watson
Date: Tue, May 28, 2024 at 7:24 pm
Dear Electoral Commission,
I am trying to understand the errors encountered during the election as
outlined in the recent Auditor General Review coupled with information I
recieed from my own OIAs and general discussion I have had with other
interested parties about the election.
I have been reviewing OIAs to the Electoral Commission. I note the
following OIA
[8]https://fyi.org.nz/request/23742/respons...
Reports for the months around the actual election were not provided.
It states..."10 sets of monthly reports for 2022/23 covering operational
detail. The latter monthly reporting is for internal use and is considered
by the Commission’s Executive Leadership Team".
What does that mean?
Can you please release these documents; July 2023, August 2023, September
2023, October 2023 and November 2023. These should be readily available.
Thank you
Yours faithfully,
David
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[9][FOI #27043 email]
Is [10][Electoral Commission request email] the wrong address for Official
Information requests to Electoral Commission? If so, please contact us
using this form:
[11]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[12]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Conversation ID: 1eb1eb8a-1d2b-11ef-8700-c75da175cb7c
1eb1eb8a-1d2b-11ef-8700-c75da175cb7c e211bcf
References
Visible links
1. http://www.vote.nz/
2. https://elections.nz/
3. https://fyi.org.nz/request/23742/respons...
4. https://vote.nz/
5. https://elections.nz/
6. https://vote.nz/
7. mailto:[FOI #27043 email]
8. https://fyi.org.nz/request/23742/respons...
9. mailto:[FOI #27043 email]
10. mailto:[Electoral Commission request email]
11. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
12. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
From: D Watson
Dear Leigh,
Perhaps we are talking cross purposes or I was unclear in my request and my follow up.
I want to understand the governance of the general election. What information was used by the executive to ensure the execution of a correct and proper election.
What reports or information was used to informed governance and management of the election in the key months leading into the election and during the election itself i.e. reports, memo, issues, risks, concerns, dependencies, wins, updates, papers, escalations, notes, briefings etc. I assume such would be collated or is that a wild unrealistic assumption - that the people responsible for managing the election, doing actual oversight and governance would have received such material.
Or am I to take it from your previous responses that such simply does not exist. Something I find incredulous.
Please list the OIA ground under which you are withholding the internal reporting you mention perhaps this material contains mention of the widely reported issues encountered during the election and you thus you have chosen to hide it
I do not want to escalated to the ombudsman. I have yet to receive a satisfactory repose to my OIA request. It is a reasonable request and the related material should be easily accessible
Yours sincerely,
Dave
D Watson
From: D Watson
Dear OIA Enquiries,
You will note my reply to Leigh on June 14th
Is anything further required from me at this stage, can you please indicate when the information requested will be provided
Yours sincerely,
Dave
From: Ethan Tucker
Good afternoon Mr Watson – the OIA enquiries team passed on your message.
We are collating the information required for your response and aim to
reply next week. There are quite a few documents to review.
Kind regards
Ethan Tucker
show quoted sections
From: D Watson
Dear Ethan Tucker,
Thank you. I am pleased to hear that there are indeed materials used by the executive team to manage and govern the running of the election during the election period, I look forward to reviewing these and I am glad that we cleared up anything that was not clear from my from my original request.
Yours sincerely,
D Watson
From: Ethan Tucker
Good afternoon Mr Watson - I'm sorry to report that it will take a little longer to provide our response. We've added some additional documents to our planned release, and reviewing them for potential release requires specialist technical knowledge from a particular manager. I've asked them to complete their review as soon as possible.
Sorry to keep you waiting
Ethan Tucker
show quoted sections
From: D Watson
Dear Ethan Tucker,
Thank you for the update.
When can I expect a response
Yours sincerely,
D Watson
From: Ethan Tucker
Good morning - I'm hoping to get your response signed out and sent to you by Monday.
show quoted sections
From: OIA Enquiries
Kia ora D Watson
Please find attached a response to your Official Information Act request.
Due to the volume of supporting documents the full response is spread out
over four emails.
In the interests of transparency, we release responses to Official
Information Act requests every three months. We will publish this response
with your personal details redacted on elections.nz.
You have the right under section 28(3) of the Act to make a complaint to
the Ombudsman if you are not satisfied with the response to your request.
Information about how to do this is available at ombudsman.parliament.nz
or by phoning 0800 802 602.
Ngā mihi
Electoral Commission | Te Kaitiaki Take Kōwhiri
PO Box 3220 | Level 4, 34-42 Manners Street | Wellington |
[1]vote.nz | [2]elections.nz
[3][IMG]
show quoted sections
From: OIA Enquiries
Kia ora D Watson
Please find attached a response to your Official Information Act request.
Due to the volume of supporting documents the full response is spread out
over four emails.
In the interests of transparency, we release responses to Official
Information Act requests every three months. We will publish this response
with your personal details redacted on elections.nz.
You have the right under section 28(3) of the Act to make a complaint to
the Ombudsman if you are not satisfied with the response to your request.
Information about how to do this is available at ombudsman.parliament.nz
or by phoning 0800 802 602.
Ngā mihi
Electoral Commission | Te Kaitiaki Take Kōwhiri
PO Box 3220 | Level 4, 34-42 Manners Street | Wellington |
[1]vote.nz | [2]elections.nz
[3][IMG]
show quoted sections
From: OIA Enquiries
Kia ora D Watson
Please find attached a response to your Official Information Act request.
Due to the volume of supporting documents the full response is spread out
over four emails.
In the interests of transparency, we release responses to Official
Information Act requests every three months. We will publish this response
with your personal details redacted on elections.nz.
You have the right under section 28(3) of the Act to make a complaint to
the Ombudsman if you are not satisfied with the response to your request.
Information about how to do this is available at ombudsman.parliament.nz
or by phoning 0800 802 602.
Ngā mihi
Electoral Commission | Te Kaitiaki Take Kōwhiri
PO Box 3220 | Level 4, 34-42 Manners Street | Wellington |
[1]vote.nz | [2]elections.nz
[3][IMG]
show quoted sections
From: OIA Enquiries
Kia ora D Watson
Please find attached a response to your Official Information Act request.
Due to the volume of supporting documents the full response is spread out
over four emails.
In the interests of transparency, we release responses to Official
Information Act requests every three months. We will publish this response
with your personal details redacted on elections.nz.
You have the right under section 28(3) of the Act to make a complaint to
the Ombudsman if you are not satisfied with the response to your request.
Information about how to do this is available at ombudsman.parliament.nz
or by phoning 0800 802 602.
Ngā mihi
Electoral Commission | Te Kaitiaki Take Kōwhiri
PO Box 3220 | Level 4, 34-42 Manners Street | Wellington |
[1]vote.nz | [2]elections.nz
[3][IMG]
show quoted sections
From: D Watson
Dear OIA Enquiries,
Thanks for the further documentation.
I still don't see anything for the month before the election or the month of the election or the month after the election. If these don't exist please advise this. There are a number of external reports mentioned and appendices listed as"attached" which are not included. I will collate a list.
In the interim can you provide reports comissioned by the commions involving that were carried out by external consultant companies and the appendices noted in the documents provided.
I will approach the Auditor General seeking the documentation that was supplied to them as input to their review of the NZ Electoral Commission
Yours sincerely,
D Watson
From: OIA Enquiries
Kia ora Mr Watson
My 15 July response included all existing governance reporting to the
Board for the 2023 General Election. The period immediately before and
after the election was devoted to operational delivery rather than
high-level governance, so some of the types of reporting you received
weren't produced during that period:
o Quarterly reports: Attachment A06 covers the immediate pre- and
post-election period.
o Monthly reports: The 15 July letter explains that you have been
provided with all existing monthly reports for the period in question.
The July 2023 monthly report was the last such report until January
2024.
o Risk updates: You’ve been provided with all risk reporting to the
Board from July 2023 until 13 September 2023, the last Board meeting
before the election. After the election this level of reporting to the
Board was not necessary, and quarterly risk reporting to the Board
didn’t resume until February 2024.
o Programme status reports: The reports provided are the complete set of
general election Programme Status Reports that went to the Board. The
last such report (attachment A33 in our response) went to the 13
September Board meeting, the last Board meeting held before the
election. There were no further programme status reports after that
date.
As mentioned on p.2 of the 15 July response, some appendices to attachment
A26 have been withheld for the reasons set out in the letter.
All the 33 attachments provided were produced by the Commission rather
than by external consultants.
If you wish to clarify your request to obtain further documents, please
specify which ones, and we will consider their release.
Ngâ mihi
Leigh Deuchars (she/ her) | Deputy Chief Executive Strategy, Governance
and Development
Electoral Commission | Te Kaitiaki Take Kôwhiri | +64 4 495 0030
PO Box 3220 | 34-42 Manners Street | Wellington |
| [1]vote.nz | [2]elections.nz
show quoted sections
From: D Watson
Dear OIA Enquiries,
Thanks I wasn't looking for reports to the board solely. I meant operational reporting that was used by the executive , as I understand it there are 4 executives that report into the CE and then heads of head department. According to the "General Election 2023: Independent review of counting errors" report published by the Controller Of the Auditor General "A month before the election, the structured approach to risk management ceased and a General Election Delivery Taskforce was set up". Do you have documentation used by this "task force" that was used to run the election - inform decision-making and manage the organisation at an appropriate level of governance level. I may have implied that I was seeking only the board level information, which you have supplied, but I was after more than that. If you do not have such i formation to hand I will conclude that there was no formal reporting or related information/artefacts produced during the actual election period.
Can you provide me with any reports that were conducted by consulting firms such as EY, Deloitte, KPMG, PwC, Martin Jenkins and other local consultancies typically used by government agencies since 2020 that looked into or reviewed any aspect of the electoral commission's operations including audits of individual functions. I am trying to ascertain what was know prior to the election about risks and issues that would be faced and any advise that may or may not have been taken on board. Were any of the issues spotted by these consultancies or was such consultancy insufficient and ineffective or lacking good terms. For example 'staffing issues' were noted but was this raised by any independent party to the executive or head of departments and not acted on or have any such consultation driven change that will prevent issues in future. I would like to know how much each consultation cost.
As I mentioned in my last message, almost every document I received references further documentation or appendix that was not provided. I will collate a list of what I believe is informative or relevant and forward that to you. There is a lot to get through. I am hoping by putting together a list it will be clear what I am looking for (insight into how was the election run).
Please provide these in tranches if not all to hand, for example I expect that the consultant reports will ne readily available.
Yours sincerely,
D Watson
D Watson left an annotation ()
I recieved some of the information after much back and forth. Ultimately I am trying to asertain how the election was managed operationally specifically wrt governance by the executive during the key election months (sep,oct,nov I am less interested in board governance
I have been given reports for 2022 and some to july 2023. There are no "programme" reports after july. I asked for emails,memo, notes etc. Etc etc for the election period sep,oct,nov but these have not been provided. I have failed to ascertain how the election was managed and governed at an executive level and can only make assumptions based on what I was given that this was at best sporadic and at worst non-existant. This tallies with the auditor general report into the election. Many of the files I received referenced other docs that were not provided. I am reviewing what i have received to raise more specific requests based on info provided. This will take a long time
From: D Watson
Dear OIA Enquiries,
My understanding based on what has been supplied is that there are no reports/memos/documents/assessment that were used by the executive "task force" to run and govern the election during the months of September,October and November 2023.
There was reference to "internal documentation" but this was not releases for one reason or another and no reason under the OIA was given
Yours sincerely,
D Watson
D Watson left an annotation ()
Regarding reports and governance by the executive leadership team or "task force" for september october and november (the critical months around the election) the following was advised
"The latter monthly reporting is for internal use and is considered by the Commission’s Executive Leadership Team".
Grounds under the OIA for not releasing these WAS NOT provided.
In line with the auditor general reports it seems it is likely that if they do exist there is information on issues, risks etc in these documents that probably highlighted the very issues that were encountered in the 2023 election thus showing that executive management was lacking.
From: OIA Enquiries
Kia ora D Watson
We are writing to update you on information your additional emails
highlighted to pull together and send to you.
We are currently working through the General Election Delivery Taskforce
documentation, which we will send through to you once we have worked
through collation and redaction work.
Separately to this, we will send you consultant information and costings,
again this needs work to pull together, collate and redact where
appropriate.
Ngā mihi,
OIA Team | Electoral Commission | Te Kaitiaki Take Kōwhiri
PO Box 3220 | Level 10, 34 – 42 Manners Street | Wellington | 6140
Phone +64 4 495 0030 | [1]vote.nz | [2]elections.nz
show quoted sections
From: D Watson
Dear OIA Enquiries,
I appreciate your commitment to providing further information and appreciate the electoral commission's transparency in this matter.
Yours sincerely,
D Watson
Things to do with this request
- Add an annotation (to help the requester or others)
- Download a zip file of all correspondence
D Watson left an annotation ()
Seeking clarity on previous OIA and understanding of what was provided to OAG
Link to this